Compatibility of work and care duties in women’s academic careers: a qualitative survey among FWF Elise Richter fellows (Austrian female senior scientists of all disciplines)

We report on a small qualitative survey undertaken among female Austrian scientists, addressing compatibility of work and care duties in summer 2025. After outlining the current scholarly discourse and state of evidence, we present the survey results (based on an empirically grounded qualitative analysis) along the central issues raised by respondents: child-care facilities, mobility, academic workload, timing in academia, money, home office and flexible timing, contracts in academia, selection beyond excellence, networking and academic role models, institutional ignorance in academia and stigmas. Each issue is presented and illustrated by quotes. We conclude with a short discussion.